Game



Oct. 15, 1935. E' How 2,017,501

GAME

Filed June 5, 1935 Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus and has for one of its objectsthe provision of a game which includes-a relatively large number ofplaying pieces that require progressive removal from the playing surfacein the course of a game and that are apt, when removed, to be easilylost.

An additional object is to so construct the game board that it mayoccupy a relatively small space and yet may have suflicient size forconvenience in playing.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a game boardembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is asection taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of amodified form of a board construction, and Fig. 5 is a section taken onthe line 55 in Fig. 4.

The game apparatus that I have devised is in the form of a containerhaving a top surface I0, a bottom I I, and a side wall I2. In the formillustrated in Fig. 1, the container is in the form of a truncated conealthough, if desired, other forms may be utilized. The playing surfaceII) has depressions I4 arranged in predetermined form, such as in rowsin the form of a cross, and the depressions are substantiallyhemispherical, and of suflicient size to receive an ordinary marble.There are thirty-three depressions illustrated and at the start of thegame, a marble is placed in each depression with the exception of thecenter one Ma. The game then proceeds by jumping any marble over anadjacent one and removing the jumped marble from the playing surface,the object of the game being to Tim ish with one playing piece occupyingthe depression I la.

As the marbles are moved, it is desirable to provide a convenientstoring place for them. To this end, I utilize the interior portion ofthe container as a receptacle and I provide an opening I5 in the surfaceIll, and on one side of the playing field, through which the marbles maybe dropped, as they are progressively removed. Thus, at the end of thegame, the playing pieces are conveniently stored away where they areimmediately accessible for reuse. To permit removal of them quickly fromthe container, I have shown an opening IS on the side wall from whichthe balls will progressively drop when the container is held on itsside.

A modification of my invention is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 wherein thecontainer has top and. bottom surfaces Illa and Ila that are held inspaced relationship by a hollow annular rubber article 25 that resemblesa tire, and that provides a supporting surface for holding the 5 bottomIIa out of contact with a table or other support on which the apparatusmay be placed.

The playing surface Illa is provided with depressions 30 whichcorrespond in form and arrangement with those indicated at I4 in Fig. 1,l0 and is also provided with an opening 35 through which the playingpieces may be dropped into the receptacle. To facilitate removal of theballs from the receptacle, the bottom is sloped, as at 36, toward anopening 31 that is norl6 mally closed by .a removable cork 38.

While I have explained the fact that balls are used as playing pieces Imay, if desired, use 1' wooden pegs, such as golf tees 40. To this end,a small opening 4| is shown at the bottom 20 of each depression. Thetees shown have tapered shanks, which provide a snug lit with the wallof each opening and thereby serve to hold them in upright position.

I claim: 25

1. A game board, comprising a container having a playing surface, andhaving a downwardly extending flange adjacent the marginal edge thereof,the flange providing a support to hold the playing surface above anysurface on which 30 the board may be rested, and the board havingdepressions thereon for receiving playing pieces, the depressions beingsmaller in size than-the playing pieces, and the surface having anopening larger than the playing pieces, whereby they 35 may be droppedthrough the playing surface when not in use, and whereby the entirespace beneath the playing surface and within said flange provides areceptacle for the playing pieces. 40 2. A game board, comprising asheet metal container having a playing surface thereon, the

surface having depressions therein, a downwardly extending flangeadjacent the marginal edge of the playing surface and terminating in 45a head, a bottom for the container lying in a plane parallel to theplaying surface and having its marginal edge secured to the bead, andopenings in the playing surface and the flange for inserting andremoving respectively, the play- 50 ing pieces.

EDWARD T. HOWARD.

